Scouts rescue riders trapped under motorcycle in South Dakota

When the worst happens, Scouts are at their best.

While hiking in the Black Hills of South Dakota last month, Scouts from Troop 93 of Lake Zurich, Ill., heard a startling sound.

The date was June 27. The place: the Sunday Gulch Trail in Custer State Park.

The Scouts and leaders were enjoying the strenuous, lightly trafficked trail when they heard the commotion and rushed to the scene. They found a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and two riders who had slid off the road at a switchback on Highway 87 near the city of Custer.

First response

After checking the scene for safety — always the first step in first aid — the Scouts remained calm and worked together to lift the bike off the riders, who were unconscious at the time.

The Scouts used their T-shirts to protect the riders from the hot metal of the muffler. Next, Scouts Seanan and Liam called for help using two-way radios while some of the adult leaders helped winch the motorcycle up the hill using their Jeep.

All of the Scouts, including Jacob, Seanan, Liam, Matthew, Mark, Noah and CJ, provided care until EMTs arrived on the scene.

Both riders regained consciousness before being loaded into an ambulance, according to an article from WLS-TV in Chicago that was first shared on Scouting Newsroom.

Staffers at the BSA’s Medicine Mountain Scout Ranch, where the troop was spending the week, were impressed with the Scouts’ quick thinking and bravery.

“Ranch officials said the troop credited their training and participation in first-aid competitions for enabling them to respond swiftly to the situation,” according to the WLS-TV article.

Well done, Scouts. You’ve done us proud!